The Portland daily press., 1887-03-09
At His Residence in Brooklyn, N. y,
Yesterday Morning.
The Great Preacher Dies With His
Family About Him
The Last sad Scenes In the Sick
Room.
The News of Mr.. Beecher's Death
Received with Profound Sorrow.
A Message OF sympathy from the
President to Mrs. Beecher.
The Funeral Arranged to Take Place
Thursday.

the presence of his family. Those present
at the bedside were Col III. B. Beecher, his
wife, his daughters Hattie and Daisy, and
his son Henry Ward Beeeher, Miss Edith
Beecher, w. C. Beecher and with, Rev. Sam
uel Scoyille, Mrs. Scoville, eldest daughter
of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Miss Scovil!e
who has just come from the Pacific slope,
Miss Bullard, Rev. s. B. Halliday and wife,
Bella the Scotch nurse. who has been with
the family many years and was special fav-
orite of the deceased preacher, the male
nurse RiordaD, Deacon S. V. White, e. A.
Seccomb, one of the trustees of Plymouth
church, and Major j. b. Pond.
Mr. Beecher passed away gradually an0
almost imperceptibly. drawing his last breath
without apparent suffering or return to con-
sciousness in any degree No Grape was
hung ON the door, Mr.. Beecher having al
ways objected to the use Of this and the
gloom associated with 1t in the presence OF
death. Instead, magnificent wreath Of
way at the top of the stoop, composed OF
white and red roses and lilies-of-the valley,
and tied up with white satin
At 1890 1t was given out that the funeral
would take place in Greenwood on Thurs
day next. Some time ago Mr.. III. w. Sage,
member OF Plymouth church, appropriated
by will a sum of money to place a statue Of
Mr.. Beecher in Prospect park after his
death. Mr.. Quincy Wood, the well-known
sculptor, who is to do the work, will call at
the house in the course of the day for the
purpose OF making plaster cast OF his fea-
lures. 1t is not intended that any examina-
tion shall be made of 3 Mr.. Beecher's brain
organism g v 1v,,.o o.u.s - .,o
house shortly before O'Clock, and 1t was
not long before he came out upon the st0op
and informed the members of the press that
the end was very near. The family were
weeping and sobbing. DR.. Searle stood by
the bedside holding one Of Mr.. Beecher's
hands, and at $50 he said: "Mr. Beecher is
no more; he is dead" 1t is difficult to de-
scribe the scene at this moment N0twith-
stand the fact that his death was looked for.
that it had been expected hourly. 1t seemed
to come with such crushing force that the
family were prostrated with grief. They
could not bring themselves to the sad real
iZatiOn that the kindly, musical voice of the
husband, father and grandfather was fore
ever hushed In death. and that they had on
" the remembrance or his kind admonitions.
Mrs. Beecher, who had borne up so bravely
from the first, and who had watched so con-
stantly at the bedside of her DUNG husband,
was utterly broken down, and when support
ted by her son Harry, as she tottered from
the room, looked as ii 1t would not be long
before she would follow her beloved hus-
band.
The news of Mr.. Beecher's death spread
very quickly to all parts OF the city, and
mourning. Even those who did not always
concur with Mr.. Beecher in his views had
no hesitation in expressing their deep regret
at his death. AS mark OF respect to bis
were placed at half-mast and Mayor Whit
ney had the City Hall bell tolled for 80 min
utes, commencing at 10.0S a. m. By that
time the newsboys were shouting their Eek
tras" on the stteet announcing the death Of
the great divine. The committee appointed
by the officers of Plymouth Church last Sun
day to take charge OF the funeral made the
necessary arrangements this morning, and,
in Difference to the deceased's wish, q wreath
of tioweas was hung on the door bell instead
Of the customary Grape drapery. Many years
ago Mr.. John L. Howard gave Mr.. Beecher
portion Of his plot in Greenwood Cemetery,
and the members of Mr.. Beecher's family
who have died have been buried there. but
the committee will probably now select an
other plot.
The funeral will take place Thursday.
Private services will be held at the house at
$50 O'Clock and public services in the church
at II. 80 o'clock. The following bulletin in
relation to the funeral appears this after
noon: "The services at the house will be
confined to relatives without any exception,
1t being manifest that selection outside the
family circle would be impossible, the house
being too small to hold even a small part Of
Mr.. Beecher's nearest friends" The inter-
ment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. In
accordance with an agreement many years
ago between Mr.. Beecher and DR.. Hall, who
ever died first the other should officiate at
the funeral of the other Dr. G. II. Hall will
therefore perform the ceremony. The COM
mittee to take charge of the funeral arrange
ments are appointed as follows: John L.
Howard, S. o. White, Thomas j. Tilney,
Profs. Rossiter, Raymond and Augustus
St0rrs
The funeral Thursday morning will be
strictly private. Short exercises will be held
at the house and at the church. Rev. l. Il.
Halliday will deliver the address. Mr..
Beecher's will will not be made public till
to express their sympathy. and numerous
messages of coincidence were received. The
family were gathered in the parlor, and re-
ceived their friends till Q o'clock when the
house was closed for the night.
DIR. Searl said tonight of MIR, Beecher's
disease: prior to this attack of apoplexy
Mr.. Beecher was remarkably sound man
for his age. The only complaint to which
he had ever been subjected was tonsilitls, so
called bilious attacks, and hay fever. Since
with the former but seldom and such attacks
were easily broken up. His bilious cOndi-
tions he removed without medical assistance
by diet and rest But hay fever proved an
annual visitor which he could only shake off
by resorting to certain countries or rlocalities.
So far as can be known his only organic dis
turbance was very limited amount Of
chronic Inflammation of the kidneys.a condi-
ti0n which Is not seldom colncldent with apo
plexy, which it has no cauSal or Sequentral
relations with. Doubtless one could not
find many persons of IA years Of age, who
were his peers in healthful structure In heart
and lungs, and all fears which had INDUCED
in before his illness of organic disease of the
heart we're dispelled by its strong action in
his last sickness. 1t was the opinion of all
physicians who saw Mr.. Beeeher that rup-
ture in his case was somewhat in the midst
Of the right cerebreal hemisphere above
what is called motor tract, that it proceeded
| from small vessels as was evidenced by the
| gradual and progressive character Of paralJ-
| sis which at first was so light as to lead
| even Mrs. Beecher with her close observation
| not to regard thickness or indlstinctneSS OF
| articulation which became manifest Friday
| evening, as only an ordinary manifestation
| for her husband. Had it not been associated
| with severe headache /, too, should have
| been less suspicious, and been willing as
were all of the family, to regard the entire
| symptoms as due to bilious disarrangement,
| although headache of such character had
/ not attended his former attacks.
The following details of the arrangements
for the funeral Of Mr.. Beecher were given to
| the press tonight: The services from the
beginning will be under the direction of Rev.
Charles II. Hall, of Holy Trinity church,
| who will offciate at the house, when the first
services take place, Thursday morning, at
$50 o'clock. At 1890 o'clock, the remains
will be escorted to the church by the 18th
regiment, of which Mr.. Beecher was chap
| lain. Company ID, called the Plymouth COM